Sawing-machine for cutting down standing timber



(No Model.)

J. AUGSPURGER.

SAWING MAGHINTTOII CUTTING DOWN STANDING TIMBER.

N0. 246,447. 'Patented Aug. 30,1881.

WINNT N. PETERS, PhnmLnhogmplmr. washmgmn. n. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN AUGSPURGER, OF TRENTON, OHIO.

SAWlNG-MACHINE FOR CUTTING DOWN STANDING TIMBER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,447, dated August 30, 1881.

Application led November 19, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN AUGSPURGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, Butler county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in SawingMachines for Outting Down Standing Timber, of which the following` is a specification.

My inven tion relates to machines for sawing standing timber, in which a crosscutsaw is driven by the manual power of a single operator, and its object is to improve and render such machines more practicable and generally useful.

To this end my invention consists, first, in the combination, with a suitable support, of a movable guideway for the cross-head and saw, automatically adjustable to the varying depth ofcut, whereby the saw is maintained always in the same relation to the work to be performed as the kerl'deepens; second, in the combination, with said movable guideway, of a supportingirame constructed to form a guide on which said saw-guideway has a lateral movement, and means for regulating said movement to accommodate the working of the saw; third, in the combination ofa supporting guide-frame, a sawguideway automatically adjustable thereon in either direction, and a saw-'pitman, with means for holding the saw to the tree interchangeably in either direction, fourth, in the combination of a vertically-adjustable supporting-frame and a saw-guideway movable horizontally thereon; lifth, in the details of construction, as hereinafter more fully pointed out.

Myinven tion is embodied in mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view ot' my invention complete 5 Fig. 2, a vertical sectional elevation of the same, taken lengthwise of the supportingframe; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section cross- Wise ofthe main frame. y

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, A designates the main or supporting frame; B, the saw-guideway; C, the saw-pitman or cross-head; D, the saw; E, the handle for operating the saw, and T the tree undergoing the action ofthe machine. y

The supporting-frame A is rectangular, being composed of parallel side bars, a c, (which serve also as guide-bars for the movable guide- (No model.)

way 13,) and end bars, aa. The frame is upheld from the ground'by corner supports, s, upon which the height of the frame is regulated by set-screws s or clamps ot' any suita ble description, by which means the saw may be adjusted to cut at any heightwithin a range of movement governed by the length of the supports s.

Upon the supporting-frameA the guideway B is carried. The latter consists of two parallel guidebars, b b, secured by end pieces forming a rectangular frame, and provided with devices enabling it to move sidewise upon the bars a c of the supporting-frame. These consist of cleats b b b2 b2, secured to the under side of the guideway, as shown, and carrying, suitably journaled in slots at or near the ends thereof, friction-rollers, riding on the upper and inner sides, respectively, of the main guiderails c c of the supporting-frame. By these devices lthe guideway .B v:isenabled to move with very little friction, andall tendcncyto bind when subjected to diagonal strains is prevented. lt is held down by cleats b3, projecting outward beneath the guide-rails a.

Itwill he obvious thatthefriction-rollersand theirimmediate connections are designed merely to enable the guideway B to move freely on the frame A. They may be dispensed with, or other means substituted for accomplishing the same result.

In the guideway B is arranged to move a cross-head, O, one end of which is horizontally slotted to receive the saw-blade, and provided with means to hold the saw securely with its teeth facing in either direction, rigidly in the cross-head. The cross-head is guided upon and between the bars b by cross-cleats c c c c, secured to each end of the cross-head proper and extending over the guide-bars b above and below, having friction-rollers journaled vertically between t-he cleats on both sides of the cross-head proper, thus rolling against the inner sides of the guidebars b b. The cross-head is of some length-say, twelve to eighteen inches for a five and a half foot saw--in order to preserve a proper degree of stiffness in the alignment of the parts, inasmuch as the strain of weight or other force applied to the saw to hold it to its work is transmitted through the guidewayB and cross-head G to the saw. The

IOO

means shown in the drawings are a cord, m, and weight y, the cord passing over a pulley, p, suitably pivoted at the end of the frame A, and adj ustably connected to the movable guideway B by a suitable hook or eye piece. A duplicate pulley and fastening device at the other end enable the cord and weight to be transferred to either side and act upon the guide- WayB in either direction. An y other mean s such, for example, as a springmay be employed as a substitute for the cord and weight.

The cross-head C is moved back and forth by a handle, E, fastened thereto by a hookand-eye connection, permitting the necessary freedom of movement as manipulated by the operator.

The sawis secured in a yoke, F, attached to the crosshead, and held adjustably by a sctscrew, j', acting upon a dog, g, the end bar of the yoke and the head ot' the dog entering notches on opposite sides of the saw, and thus clamping the saw securely in either position. Journaled horizontally between the bars b b of the guideway B is a roller, h, upon which the saw rides fiatwise and is supported in its reciprocation. To securea properdegree of stili'- ness in the frame of the guideway B, I insert a brace, i, centrally between the rails b b.

The operation is as follows: The frame A being properly adjusted as to height and position in relation to the tree or stump T, the saw is placed against the trunk and moved back and forth a few times to start the kerf, and the cord and weight adjusted to draw against the movable gnideway B, by which means the saw is held to its work. The operation is then continued by means of the handle E, by which the operator moves the cross head G and saw back and forth, the weight acting automatically to keep the saw in position for cutting. When the weight has descended to the ground and fails to act it is again drawn upbyshortening thecord. When it is desired to cut in theoppositedirection the saw is released from the yoke F, turned over and readjusted, and the cord and weight transferred to the opposite side of the guideway B, and the machine operated as before.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a sawing-machine for cutting standing timber, the combination of a portable and vertically-adjustable supporting-frame, A, an independent guideway, B, movable laterally thereon in guides, a cross-head, C, carrying a crosscut-saw, D, and operated manually by a handle, E, in the guideway B, and a weight, y, for regulating the work ot' the saw in the kerf, substantially as specified.

2. The cross-head C, constructed with crosscleats overlapping the guide-bars b b above and below, and carrying friction-rollers vertically journaled between the cleats and operating on the inner faces ofthe guide-bars, in combination with the movable guideway B, saw D, and means for the automatic adjustment of the guideway to the work ofthe saw, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN AUGSP URGE lli.

Witnesses:

L. M. Hosea, U. P. DooLrrfrLE. 

